When applying for a mortgage, lenders often require a Verification of Rent (VOR) to confirm your rental history. This form is sent directly from your lender to your landlord or property manager, who completes it by verifying your monthly rent amount, lease start and end dates, and your payment record over the past 12 to 24 months. Unlike credit card or loan payments, rent payments often don’t appear on your credit report, so the VOR fills this crucial gap by demonstrating your history of making consistent housing payments.
The VOR process typically involves several steps: you first authorize your lender to contact your landlord. Then, the lender sends the form to the landlord, who confirms the details and returns it directly to the lender. This verification helps lenders evaluate your ability to handle mortgage payments based on your rental payment behavior.
Lenders especially value VORs for first-time homebuyers with limited credit histories, borrowers with imperfect credit, and self-employed applicants with variable incomes. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), including rental history in credit evaluations can increase loan approval chances.
If your landlord cannot complete the VOR form, lenders often accept alternatives such as 12 months of canceled rent checks or bank statements showing electronic rent payments. Always check with your lender about acceptable documents.
To ensure a smooth VOR process, inform your landlord in advance, be honest about any past late payments, and follow up if necessary. Ultimately, the Verification of Rent is a key tool that helps lenders confirm you are financially ready for homeownership.
For more on mortgage documentation, see our article on Verification of Mortgage (VOM). To understand how your income affects lending, read about Qualifying Income. If you’re new to the process, check out our guide to Online Mortgage Application.
References:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) report on rental history and credit access: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/rental-information-credit-reporting/
- Rocket Mortgage, “What Is A Verification Of Rent (VOR) and How It Works”
- Investopedia, “Verification of Rent (VOR) Explained”
External authority link:
- IRS on rental payments and mortgage documentation: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc414
